COVID-19: Bio researchers race to repurpose everything from antiviral to anticancer discoveries

Posted on March 31, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

“As for startup Pinpoint Therapeutics, it was founded on the discovery that drugs designed to combat the malaria virus may also have promise in fighting cancer—and now its scientists are taking their antiviral know-how and applying it to COVID-19. Pinpoint is developing drugs that inhibit PPT1, a pathway targeted by a class of antimalarial drugs…

University of Pennsylvania researchers help develop rapid at-home COVID-19 test

Posted on March 30, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

Exciting new research: This test, called a nucleic acid test, detects the virus directly through its genetic material, and its developers say the results should be ready to interpret within an hour. Read more on WHYY

Penn establishes center to accelerate coronavirus research

Posted on March 25, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has established a new center to help expand and accelerate research related to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the respiratory illness known as COVID-19. The Center of Research for Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens aims to advance research to better understand the pathology of the coronavirus and, ultimately,…

PCI is here to support the Penn community

Posted on March 24, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

PCI continues to fully serve the Penn community and work with both its internal and external stakeholders on vital innovation and commercialization activities during this challenging time. Our on-campus offices are currently closed, but the entire PCI team is available and working remotely during normal business hours. All PCI-managed activities, except in-person events and meetings,…

Calling on all Life Sciences and Other Organizations to Donate Supplies to Fight COVID-19

Posted on March 23, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

Our friends at Life Sciences PA have put out a call for all Life Sciences and other organizations to donate supplies to fight COVID-19 that have been identified by PA: “Attached via this link is a list of supplies and scientific and medical expertise we have collectively identified as most needed at this time. We ask you…

Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund

Posted on — Jessica Jones Gupta

The Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund offers grants or zero-interest loans to Philadelphia small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, administered by the Department of Commerce and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), aims to: Provide relief to small businesses in order to help them survive this crisis. Retain as many employees as possible. Help businesses…

How these Philly startups are faring (or pivoting) amid COVID-19

Posted on March 19, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

“This has forced us to think critically about our business model to see how we can emerge through dire market conditions,” said Adit Gupta, cofounder of VyB, an app for rating businesses IRL.  The article also features Simply Good Jars and NeuroFlow. Read more on Technical.ly Philly

2019 was a great year for PCI Ventures!

Posted on — Jessica Jones Gupta

We are sharing our 2019 Spotlight during a time of uncertainty.  While these are challenging circumstances, it is important for us, now more than ever, to showcase the inventors, entrepreneurs, and partners who are at the heart of what we do. Our 2019 Spotlight reflects on and celebrates the progress we made this past year. …

Big pharma shied away from gene therapy for years. Academia picked up the slack

Posted on March 18, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

When big pharma backed away from gene therapy, academia transformed tech transfer to advance the science. “The old way is, ‘I have a patent, I’m going to throw it over the fence to you and you throw me a sack of money,’” said John Swartley, managing director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Center for…

Amicus opens UCity R&D tower, calls Philly the ‘Cradle of Cures’

Posted on March 10, 2020 — Jessica Jones Gupta

Amicus Therapeutics, a publicly traded biopharmaceutical firm focused on rare diseases, has moved nearly 100 R&D professionals over the past year into 3675 Market St., in Philadelphia’s University City, and plans to add another 100. “Here in Philadelphia is where we are going to do all our science,” says John Crowley, chief executive of Amicus,…

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